Major cities of Kyrgyzstan

Written by Sandeep Nehra

Bishkek

Bishkek is capital of Kyrgyzstan and largest city of the country as well. It is also a special administrative unit. Population of Bishkek is around 906 thousand as calculated in year 2007. Unlike the southern regions of the Kyrgyz republic, a high percentage of the population is Russian and most of residents speak Russian. The city is located in the north of the Kyrgyz Republic, in the Chui valley at the foothills of the Tien-Shan, 40 km north of the Kyrgyz Range and 25 km from the border with Kazakhstan.

Area of the Bishkek city is about 160 km ². Administratively the city is divided into 4 areas namely Leninsky District, subject Jong-Aryksky Kenesh village, which includes pgt Jong-irrigation ditch and the village of Ortho-Sai.

The city of Bishkek (formerly called Frunze) is the largest city in Kyrgyzstan, while its capital. City has a complex and ambiguous the demographic processes. Historically, large urban settlements arose on the site of Bishkek’s only in the last quarter of the 19th century after the occurrence of Kirghizia and the Chui Valley in the Russian Empire and the appearance here of the first osledlyh settlers, mostly Russian, Ukrainian, Tatar, Dungan, and Sart. In the early 20th century near the town began to settle and the local Kirghiz. Nevertheless, until 1924 the city was virtually Agrarian village. During the Great Patriotic War, after the evacuation of some residents and industries from the front to the rear, the city has been a rapid industrial growth, which lasted until the collapse of the USSR.

Osh

Osh is a city of republican subordination in Kyrgyzstan and the administrative center of Osh region. The population of Osh is around 218.8 thousand people as per records in year 2003. It is located in the eastern part of the Ferghana valley, on the river Ak-Buura.

Osh is one of the ancient Sogdian (Persian), the Central Asian cities. The exact date of its origin of Osh is unknown. Legends associate it with the base name of Alexander of Macedon, and even the Prophet Solomon (Suleiman). According to archeologists, the earliest evidence of the city is mentioned in the chronicles in the IX century.

Osh was one of the religious centers of Muslim Central Asia. The most famous of ancient mosques in the city center, as well as the mountain of Sulaiman-Too (Takht-i-Sulaiman, the Throne of Solomon), which is one of the places of pilgrimage for Central Asian Muslims.

Talas

Talas is another big city of Kyrgyzstan and the administrative center of Talas oblast. Population of the city was recorded 34, 500 in year 2003.

It is located in the northeastern part of the Talas valley, at an altitude of 1280 m above sea level in the floodplain of the Talas River. Talas is 360 kilometers west of the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, 90 km east of the railway station, Zhambyl (Kazakhstan) and 90 km west of highway Bishkek-Osh road. The climate of Talas is continental and droughty. The highest average temperature can be observed in the month of July around +15 to +25 ° C, while the lowest monthly average temperature in January is -6-14 C. The annual rainfall is 300-400 mm.

The city was founded in 1877 by Russian and Ukrainian immigrants in the central part of the Talas valley on the left bank of the Talas River at an altitude of 1200 meters above sea level and was formerly known as Dmitrievka.

Jalal-Abad

Jalal-Abad is a town in Kyrgyzstan and the administrative center of Jalal-Abad. Population od the region was recorded in year 2004 around 75 696. Jalal-Abad is about a distance of 650 km from Bishkek and about 60 km south-west is the town of Osh. Geological location of the region is in foothills of the Tien Shan mountain range at the foot of small hills Ayyp-Too at an altitude of 763 m above sea level in Kogartskoy Valley. The valley is located in the subtropical zone. Distance from large bodies of water causes the continentality and aridity of the climate. The average temperature is +13 C º, in July +25 +27 C º, in January -3-5C º.

Erected as a village near the springs with the growth of population settlements appeared artisans like potters, artisans, craft workshops developed, which subsequently gave rise to small processing enterprises. At the beginning of XIX century, built a fortress of the Kokand Khanate and since 1876 is in the Russian Empire, the status of the city. By this time the attitude and the first mention of the settlement with the name of Jalal-Abad in the official historical documents. At that time it was shed for caravan passing merchants on the Silk Road. It crossed the road on transhumance, buyers and sellers. It was the venue for the steppe trade. Since 1991, the city of Jalal-Abad has got the status of the regional center. First mayor of the town of Jalal-Abad was elected Ismanov Kasim. In autumn 2007, the city celebrated its 130th year anniversary. The main events with the participation of the country’s leadership have been at the racetrack, “Teltoru”. The city was awarded the Order Danaker.

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